WORLD NEWS
Clean up and damage assessments begin after Hurricane Otis rips through
Category 5 storm struck Acapulco and leveled homes, hotels and cut off communications as military called in to help with aid efforts
Peru launched its National Strategy against Climate Change by 2050, where it promotes consuming insects. Peruvian chef Palmiro Ocampo promotes the program, saying he uses insects because more resources are generated through “sustainable gastronomy.” Ocampo is part of the UN “Chefs’s Manifesto” initiative, that includes more than 130 chefs in 38 countries willing to promote policies that align with Sustainable Development Goals.
Ghana power crisis: Limited gas supply triggers nationwide power outage
Most parts of Ghana have been plunged into darkness due to a lack of gas to power machinery used to generate electricity in the country.
Power distribution firm Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) says the situation has caused “a supply gap of 550MW at peak time” at Tema power plant, near the capital, Accra.
This is 10% of the country’s capacity, reports the Reuters news agency.
The massive outage started on Thursday evening.
900 US Troops Deploying to Middle East as Attacks on American Forces Ramp Up
Nine hundred service members are or will be deploying to the Middle East as the United States seeks to respond to attacks on its forces and to prevent the Israel-Hamas War from spiraling into a regional conflict.
Some of those troops were previously given prepare-to-deploy orders but others were not, according to Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“These include forces that have been on prepare-to-deploy orders and which are deploying from the continental United States,” Gen. Ryder said to reporters on Oct. 26.
“I can confirm that they are not going to Israel,” he added.
Gen. Ryder declined to specify where the U.S. troops would be sent but said that they would include air defense elements previously said to be deployed in order to deter further violence against Israel.
US fighter jets strike Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops
U.S. fighter jets launched airstrikes early Friday on two locations in eastern Syria linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Pentagon said, in retaliation for a slew of drone and missile attacks against U.S. bases and personnel in the region that began early last week.
The U.S. strikes reflect the Biden administration’s determination to maintain a delicate balance. The U.S. wants to hit Iranian-backed groups suspected of targeting the U.S. as strongly as possible to deter future aggression, possibly fueled by Israel’s war against Hamas, while also working to avoid inflaming the region and provoking a wider conflict.
According to a senior U.S. military official, the precision strikes were carried out near Boukamal by two F-16 fighter jets, and they struck weapons and ammunition storage areas that were connected to the IRGC. The official said there had been Iranian-aligned militia and IRGC personnel on the base and no civilians, but the U.S. does not have any information yet on casualties or an assessment of damage. The official would not say how many munitions were launched by the F-16s.
It’s not the BBC’s first reporting blunder … (remember WTC 7)?
WATCH: Israeli TV Show Mocks BBC Reporting of Gaza Hospital Blast
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Ye shall know them by their fruits …
During an interview aired on Tuesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated that House Republicans will find cuts elsewhere in the budget to pay for money sent to Israel or Ukraine and that in order to get further funding for Ukraine without greater accountability for the money and a clear strategic plan from the White House.
Host Sean Hannity asked, [relevant exchange begins around 16:00] “Already, Joe Biden has given $76.8 billion to Ukraine. He wants $61 billion more. He wants 14 billion to go to Israel. And I think he — and then he wants to put money on the border, probably to satisfy conservatives in the House and get their support on Ukraine, for example, which seems to be his top priority. A big disparity in the amount of money. I have some criticisms about the issue of Ukraine. Number one, if you’re going to fight a war, you should fight it to win it. I thought the president made a horrible mistake by denying MiGs that were offered by Poland. I think the president made a horrible mistake trying to put handcuffs on the Ukrainian Army, led by Zelensky, on the issue of how they will fight and what weapons they can and cannot use like cluster bombs. And I don’t like the fact that Europe doesn’t pay their fair share. So, they’ve got 78 billion, he wants another 61 billion. How will you deal with the issues that — he wants to tie all of these issues together, which now gets into the budgetary process. Will you go issue by issue?”
Johnson responded, “I told the staff at the White House today that our consensus among House Republicans is we need to bifurcate those issues. I agree with your assessment in Ukraine, and that’s why the American people are demanding some real accountability for the use of those dollars. Now, we can’t allow Vladimir Putin to prevail in Ukraine, because I don’t believe it would stop there and it would probably encourage and empower China to perhaps make a move on Taiwan. We have these concerns. We’re not going to abandon them. But we have a responsibility, a stewardship responsibility over the precious treasure of the American people, and we have to make sure that the White House is providing the people with some accountability for the dollars and we want to know what the objective there is, what is the endgame in Ukraine? The White House has not provided that. I was at the White House for a couple of hours today and I told the staff there that this is where we are. This is where the House Republicans are.”
Arrest Warrant Issued for Suspect in Maine Shooting That Killed at Least 18
Police have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in a Wednesday night mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that killed at least 18 people.
Maine State Police Col. William Ross announced at a press conference on Thursday that an arrest warrant has been issued for Robert Card for eight counts of murder.
“The reason it’s eight counts is because ten people have not yet been identified,” Mr. Ross said. “As those people are identified, the counts will probably go to the total of 18.”
“He should be considered armed and dangerous,” Mr. Ross continued, adding that the suspect remains at large and should not be approached, with anyone coming into contact with him being advised to call 911.
A coordinated search is being conducted by numerous law enforcement agencies, Mr. Ross added.
Earlier, police warned that the suspect is a trained firearms instructor who may have been suffering from mental health issues.
Maine shootings: police surround farmhouse owned by suspect’s family in Bowdoin
Mass-shooting suspect Robert Card may be holed up in a family-owned farmhouse in Bowdoin, Maine, several miles from where he is alleged to have carried out a massacre on Wednesday evening.
The FBI and Maine state police have been staking out the property since the afternoon without offering clarity on the situation.
Biden Warns China Attack on Philippine Ships Could Trigger US Mutual Defense Treaty
President Joe Biden warned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Oct. 25 not to attack Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, stating that any attack on the U.S. ally would trigger Washington’s mutual defense treaty with Manila.
The warnings come after officials in the Philippines claimed that Chinese ships blocked two Philippine vessels on a resupply mission on Oct. 22 in the highly disputed South China Sea, resulting in two collisions.
At the White House during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Biden noted the recent unlawful incidents and warned that the United States would be forced to intervene if Beijing continued its dangerous attacks on the vessels.
However, he stressed the United States was “not looking for conflict” with the CCP.
“Just this past week, the [People’s Republic of China] vessels acted dangerously and unlawfully as our Philippine friends conducted a routine resupply mission within their own exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea,” he said.
“I want to be very clear: The United States’ defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad,” he said. “Any attack on the Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.”
Senate Passes Resolution Condemning Hamas, Anti-Semitism on Campuses
The Senate approved a resolution on Oct. 26 that condemns the terrorist group Hamas and anti-Semitism on college campuses nationwide.
The resolution, which was introduced on Oct. 18 by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and passed by voice vote, notes that the latest attacks by Hamas against Israel that started on Oct. 7 have left 30 U.S. citizens dead and at least 13 U.S. citizens missing.
“Hamas has perpetrated barbaric atrocities, including the targeted killing, rape, and mutilation of civilian men, women, and children, including infants,” the resolution states.
The resolution calls out anti-Semitism on college campuses amid the Hamas terrorist attacks on the Jewish state.
DOJ Asks DC Judge to Reinstate Trump Gag Order
The Justice Department (DOJ) has asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to reinstate her gag order on former President Donald Trump, arguing that it doesn’t violate his constitutional right to free speech.
Judge Chutkan issued a stay on Oct. 20 pending appeal. The initial order prompted criticism from many, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), for placing overbroad restrictions on President Trump’s speech. Both the ACLU and President Trump’s attorneys argued that the order, which states that President Trump isn’t allowed to “target” people involved in the case, was also unconstitutionally vague.
DOJ attorney Molly Gaston, who is part of special counsel Jack Smith’s team, disputed both of these points in her Oct. 25 response and echoed Judge Chutkan in asserting that criminal defendants don’t enjoy unrestricted First Amendment rights.
“The Court has issued a narrow order … that strikes a careful balance between the First Amendment rights of the defendant and the need to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings, including by protecting certain trial participants from intimidation, harassment, and threats,” Ms. Gaston wrote.
“These narrow restrictions were needed, the Court found, because the defendant has a demonstrated history of using inflammatory language to target certain individuals in a way that ‘pose[s] a significant and immediate risk that (1) witnesses will be intimidated or otherwise unduly influenced by the prospect of being themselves targeted for harassment or threats; and (2) attorneys, public servants, and other court staff will themselves become targets for threats and harassment.’”
President Trump’s attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche had argued in their Oct. 20 motion that prosecutors hadn’t proven that President Trump’s statements made witnesses feel threatened or harassed.
“A prior restraint cannot be based on speculation,” Mr. Lauro and Mr. Blanche wrote. “Rather, the prosecution must demonstrate a ‘clear and present danger’ to a compelling government interest.”
Ms. Gaston, however, maintained that waiting for harassment or violence to occur was an “ineffectual approach” not required by the First Amendment.
Trump Speaks Out After Judge Fines Him $10,000 for Gag Order Violation
Former President Donald Trump made several posts on Truth Social about the judge and prosecutor after the events of Wednesday’s trial, where witness Michael Cohen appeared to backtrack in his testimony against President Trump, and the federal judge fined President Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order.
“The Judge in the New York State A.G. case refuses to accept the overturning of his decisions by the Appeals Court. This is a first in the history of the State! HE HAS GONE CRAZY IN HIS HATRED OF ‘TRUMP,'” he wrote in Thursday morning.
“Also, their ‘STAR’ witness just admitted his statements were all a big lie. He broke down in court. The Radical Left Judge said he doesn’t care. He is trying to protect RACIST A.G. Letitia James, who has no case, lost the appeal, but has a tyrannical and unhinged Trump Hating Judge. She campaigned for A.G. on, ‘I Will Get Trump,’ long before she knew anything about me. This is Judicial Misconduct, coupled with Prosecutorial Misconduct, and somebody from the State of New York must step in and stop this Complete & Total Miscarriage of Justice!”
Trump Attorneys Aim to Impeach Michael Cohen as Witness
Defense attorneys for former President Donald Trump cross-examined former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen on Oct. 25, seeking to establish a pattern of Mr. Cohen lying under oath to discredit him as a witness, a day after Mr. Cohen had testified that the former president had him inflate asset values on the Trump Organization’s statements of financial condition (SFC).
New Guilty Pleas Unlikely to Bolster Georgia Case Against Trump, Former Prosecutor Says
Three of former President Donald Trump’s legal advisers have entered guilty pleas in an ongoing criminal case in Fulton County, Georgia, in the past week, but former prosecutor David Gelman said those plea deals are unlikely to help prosecutors convict the former president.
“I know the mainstream media is really hounding down and say, ‘Oh, the Trump’s inner circle is collapsing.’ I don’t see it,” Mr. Gelman told NTD News’ “Capitol Report” on Oct. 25.
In August, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged President Trump and 18 other people, accusing them of conspiring to unlawfully overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
A pilot had been told to wait to take off before planes collided on Houston runway, NTSB says
The pilot of a twin-engine Hawker aircraft started rolling on a runway after being told to line up and wait for takeoff when the plane’s wing struck the tail of a twin engine Cessna that had just landed at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday.
The Hawker aircraft became airborne before returning to the runway, NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said, but it was not yet clear if the pilot failed to hear the instruction to wait.
“We haven’t verified that, that’s one thing we’re very interested in,” Knudson said.
None of the eight people on board to two airplanes — five on the Cessna and three on the Hawker — were injured, the NTSB said.
Teens accused of killing retired police chief laugh, flip off victim’s family in court
Two Las Vegas teens accused of fatally running over a retired police chief laughed at each other, smiled, and seemingly flipped off their victim’s family during a court hearing earlier this week.
Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, were back in court on Tuesday more than two months after they allegedly recorded themselves intentionally plowing into Andreas Probst, a 64-year-old retired police chief, who was out on a morning bike ride.
The teens’ antics began when they sat down for the hearing in Clark County court, covering the right side of their faces to hide themselves from the cameras before appearing to cover their mouths to suppress their laughter.
The teens, who were both minors when Probst was killed, were charged with murder and being tried as adults.
Probst’s family slammed the teen’s appalling actions of reportedly flipping them off, saying they “really had no remorse.”
“How can you sit there after taking a man’s life, and act like such an entitled p—k? Taylor Probst, Andreas’ 27-year-old daughter told reporters outside the courthouse. “They really had no remorse, that this is just a game to them.”
Ayala’s public defender, David Westbrook also appeared to be laughing alongside the teen in the courtroom on Tuesday, video from KTNV shows.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Yellen says the economy is doing so well and “people are feeling good about their finances”?
Streaming Carnage: NBCUniversal’s Peacock Loses $565M in 3 Months, Expected to Lose $2.8B in 2023
NBCUniversal’s Peacock lost more than half a billion dollars during the three months of summer, the latest example of Hollywood’s streaming carnage that has seen studios struggling to carve out a profitable piece of the home video market.
Peacock lost $565 million for the fiscal third quarter, which covered the period from June through August. The loss marked a modest improvement from the same quarter last year, when Peacock lost $614 million.
or the year so far, Peacock’s losses amount to $1.92 billion. Looking ahead, Peacock is predicted to lose $880 million in the fourth quarter, meaning the streamer is forecasted to lose a staggering $2.8 billion for 2023.
(Must be the mushrooms …)
World’s Oldest Central Bank Seeking $7 Billion Bailout After Massive Bond Losses
Two weeks ago we reminded the world that thanks to soaring interest rates, which will only keep rising until the Fed figures out what “big-enough” crisis it uses to trigger QEx+1, the staggering losses on global fixed income securities which according to the IIF amount to $307 trillion – as calculated by DB’s Jim Reid – have risen to a staggering $107 trillion. And while thanks to such facilities as the BTFP much of the MTM risk has been transferred (if only for the time being) away from commercial banks and to the Fed, the cumulative losses at central banks are now absolutely staggering, starting with the biggest and baddest one of all, where the Fed operating loss is now $111 billion and rising with every day that the Fed pays out more in interest to banks (excess reserves) and money markets (reverse repos) than it collects on its bond portfolio…… While the cumulative MTM loss on its multi-trillion bond and MBS portfolio is now a staggering, hold on to your hats, $1+ trillion (this despite unwinding more than $1 trillion in assets on its balance sheet since the early 2022 peak).
Gavin Newsom Pledges California Will Be Xi Jinping’s ‘Long-Term, Stable, and Strong Partner’
Chinese state media continued to gush over visiting California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, hailing the Democrat’s warm meeting with dictator Xi Jinping as a triumph of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.”
Newsom said that under his leadership, California is ready to become “China’s long-term, stable, and strong partner.”
The state-run Global Times lauded Newsom’s meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as a milestone in improving U.S.-China relations, a sentiment Newsom reportedly reciprocated:
Newsom said that no other bilateral relationship is more important than the one between the US and China, and the US-China relationship is vital to the future of the US and bears on the well-being of its people.
Newsom said he is willing to push California to strengthen exchanges with China and seek closer cooperation in fields such as climate change and new energy. California is willing to be China’s long-term, stable and strong partner, he added.
As the first US governor to visit China in more than four years, Newsom expressed his high appreciation for relations with China and recalled the first sister cities established between China and the US in 1980: Shanghai and San Francisco. He hopes to contribute to the resumption of exchanges and cooperation between China and the US, CGTN reported on Wednesday.
CGTN is the China Global Television Network, another Communist state-run media operation.
A good deal of Newsom’s enthusiasm for doing business with China revolved around climate change, electric vehicles (EV), and green energy technology.
Housing Affordability Gets Crushed as Qualifying Income to Buy Home Doubles to Over $100,000
A new housing industry report shows that home affordability is plumbing staggering new lows, with the qualifying annual income for a median-priced home more than doubling from where it was in 2020 to a whopping $107,000.
The stark figure was revealed in the Monthly Housing Affordability Index, released on Oct. 25 by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
The report shows that, in 2020, the qualifying annual income (based on a 20 percent down payment and a 25 percent qualifying ratio for monthly housing expense to gross monthly income) to buy a median family home was $49,680.
That’s less than half of what it was in August 2023, the latest month of available data, according to NAR.
A separate Oct. 17 report from real estate data provider Redfin painted much the same (though slightly gloomier) picture, estimating that a homebuyer today must earn $114,627 to afford the median-priced U.S. home.
That’s the highest annual income needed to afford a home on record.
‘Green Panic’: Siemens Energy Stock Collapses As Industry Melts Down
Siemens Energy shares in Germany crashed on Thursday after the company warned its wind turbine business is grappling with quality issues and offshore ramp-up challenges. The company said it’s evaluating various measures to strengthen its balance sheet and is discussing state guarantees with the German government. This comes as a financial crisis in offshore wind energy is brewing.
Siemens Energy said the wind business Siemens Gamesa “is working through the quality issues and is addressing the offshore ramp up challenges as announced in the third quarter communication for fiscal year 2023.”
“As Siemens Gamesa is for the time being not concluding new contracts for certain onshore platforms and is applying strict selectivity in the offshore business, order intake and revenue are expected to be lower than market expectations for fiscal year 2024, and net losses and cash outflow are expected to be higher than market forecasts,” the statement continued.
The German company said, “The Executive Board is evaluating various measures to strengthen the balance sheet of Siemens Energy and is in preliminary talks with different stakeholders, including banking partners and the German government, to ensure access to an increasing volume of guarantees necessary to facilitate the anticipated strong growth.”
Shares of Siemens Energy crashed 37% in Germany.
Out of Juice: Honda and GM Halt Joint Venture to Develop Affordable Electric Cars
Honda and General Motors have ended a joint venture aimed at creating a new range of cost-effective electric vehicles (EVs).
Ars Technica reports that Honda and GM have called off their ambitious partnership that aimed to bring affordable EVs to the markets of North America, South America, and China. The collaboration, which many hoped would promote the democratization of green technology in the automotive industry, was expected to see results in 2027.
“After extensive studies and analysis, we have come to a mutual decision to discontinue the program. Each company remains committed to affordability in the EV market,” the companies said in a joint statement. The decision came after a year of careful study and analysis, which revealed that creating an affordable EV platform presented significant business challenges.
Michelin to Close Oklahoma Tire Plant, Laying Off 1,400 American Workers
Executives with France-based Michelin announced that they will soon close a tire production plant in Ardmore, Oklahoma, laying off 1,400 American workers in the process. The decision comes as cheap foreign imported tires from low-wage countries flood the United States market.
On Thursday, Michelin executives said they would wind down production at the Ardmore plant. Supporting industries and local businesses are likely to take a hit as well.
HEALTH
3 Simple Ways to Alleviate Constipation
Those who suffer from constipation—nearly 16 out of every 100 adults—will tell you that it adversely affects their quality of life. Is it possible that chronic constipation is also associated with a risk of cancer? According to a study in Clinical Epidemiology, that remains unclear.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treats the symptoms and root causes of constipation using a three-pronged approach, that incorporates diet therapy, acupoints manipulation, and intestinal massage to promote peristalsis and effectively prevent and improve the condition.
Acupoints Massage to Improve Constipation
Acupoint massage advocated by TCM is able to regulate qi and blood, enhance intestinal peristalsis, and thereby improve constipation. According to TCM, qi and blood are the basic substances that constitute the human body and maintain all physiological activities. TCM has discovered “meridians”—energy channels of the human body, responsible for transporting qi and blood around the entire body. The human body has 12 main meridians corresponding to the 12 internal organs. The internal organs are connected to the surface of the human body through the meridians. Certain points on the meridians with special functionalities are called acupoints. By stimulating the corresponding acupoints through acupuncture and massage, diseases of the corresponding organs can be treated.
A study published by eClinicalMedicine, part of The Lancet, confirmed in February that electro-acupoint treatment can improve constipation symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
The results of the study found that compared with conventional drug treatment, the additional electroacupuncture treatment significantly increased the number of spontaneous bowel movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Be the master of acupressure!!! We are offering 20% off Health Point Machines for a very limited time – we have a limited number in stock so act now while supplies last!
FDA Approves Drug to Treat Ulcerative Colitis
Eli Lilly and Co said on Thursday that the U.S. health regulator had approved its drug for treating adults with moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis, a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
The drug, which will be available in the United States in coming weeks and sold under brand name Omvoh, is among Lilly’s potential growth drivers for this decade alongside tirzepatide for obesity, lebrikizumab for atopic dermatitis or eczema and pirtobrutinib for cancer.
The agency’s decision will help Lilly enter a sector, where drugs from rivals such as Abbvie Inc, Pfizer Inc and Johnson & Johnson are already jostling for a share of the multi-billion dollar market.
Ulcerative Colitis Diet: Foods, Supplements and Natural Remedies
Conventional ulcerative colitis treatment usually involves either drug therapy or surgery, and according to a review done at Harvard Medical School, anti-inflammatory drugs are typically the first step in treatment. (3) Two common anti-inflammatory medications that are prescribed for ulcerative colitis include aminosalicylates and corticosteroids. Although these medications can be effective in reducing symptoms of ulcerative colitis, they come with a number of side effects.
The Ulcerative Colitis Diet
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Studies have found that an omega-3 fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid (known as EPA) has the power to fight inflammation. It blocks certain chemicals in your body called leukotrienes. A benefit of fish oil is it’s a good source of EPA, and in some tests, people benefited from very high doses of it.
- Probiotics
Probiotics are bacteria that line your digestive tract and support your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and fight infection. Probiotics crowd out bad bacteria, yeast and fungi. They also create enzymes that destroy bad bacteria that can lead to inflammation and infections. Probiotics have the power to boost the immune system and improve digestive function.
You can also take a probiotic supplement like Living Streams Multi Blend Liquid probiotics or Latero Probiotic capsules)
- Iron-Rich Foods
A major symptom of ulcerative colitis is anemia, which occurs when the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. Bleeding ulcers and bloody diarrhea can cause anemia, and to fight it you need to boost your blood iron levels.
- Folate-Rich Foods
Folate is another important vitamin for people with ulcerative colitis because it helps the body make new cells, specifically by playing a role in copying and synthesizing DNA. A folate deficiency causes anemia, poor immune function and poor digestion.
- Turmeric
One of the most powerful aspects of turmeric, or curcumin, is its ability to control inflammation; it’s actually one of the most effective anti-inflammatory compounds in the world! Oftentimes, people with digestive and stomach complaints become intolerant to medical interventions because the stomach flora is already compromised and drugs can literally tear up the mucosal lining. Even better, you can take Curcumin X4000!)
Supplements for Ulcerative Colitis
Because ulcerative colitis may interfere with your ability to absorb nutrients, it’s important that you use supplements to ensure that your body gets the vitamins and minerals that are necessary. Some supplements that may be helpful when combating the symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:
- Calcium — improves bone strength and hormone secretion (we recommend BoneActiv Capsules)
- Vitamin D — fights autoimmune diseases and contributes to bone health (we recommend Optivida Vitamin D)
- Multivitamin — ensures that you are getting the necessary vitamins and minerals
(we recommended either Grown by Nature Multivitamin OR Optivida Basic or Complete Essentials, both of which already contain probiotics!)
- Probiotics — provide good bacteria, reduce inflammation and minimize immune responses (we recommend Living Streams Multi Blend Liquid probiotics or Latero Probiotic capsules)
- Fish oil — fights inflammation and blocks chemical reactions (we recommend Optivida Super Krill Oil)
23andMe Is Launching a $1,200-a-Year Service To Find Health Risks In Your DNA
Gene-testing company is transitioning into a health-care company.
The service allows people to sequence their entire exome, the tiny portion of DNA that researchers estimate is responsible for the vast majority of disease-causing genes.Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Lawsuit Claims Elon Musk’s Tesla Knew of Malfunctions in Autopilot 2 Years Before Fatal Crash
Tesla is embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle over a fatal accident allegedly caused by a malfunction in its Autopilot system. In the latest twist in this legal drama, the plaintiffs are claiming that Elon Musk’s company knew about malfunctions in its “Autopilot” software two years before the fatal crash occurred.
Reuters reports that Elon Musk’s Tesla is currently facing a lawsuit that claims the company was aware of a steering malfunction in its Autopilot feature two years before a tragic fatal accident took place. The lawsuit has been brought forward by the victims of a crash that occurred when a Tesla Model 3 veered off a highway, collided with a palm tree, and caught fire. The crash resulted in the death of the car’s owner, Micah Lee, and left two passengers with severe injuries.
SURVEILLANCE STATE
CATO PODCAST: For Good and Ill, Your Car Is Collecting Your Data – What are the privacy implications for cars that collect all manner of data about us and our driving habits? Jennifer Huddleston explains the good and bad.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
WATCH — ‘That Sh*t Was Nuts’: Brief Tornado in San Antonio Shocks Drivers
A brief tornado touched down in San Antonio, Texas, early Thursday, and video footage shows the eerie incident.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado and is working to determine its path and strength, according to News 4 San Antonio.
“The weak funnel cloud was spotted by meteorologist Brad Sowder with our weather cam. He said the funnel cloud was on the North Side and was very weak, but there was some debris seen in connection with it,” the outlet explained.
In a social media post on Thursday, Sowder shared a video clip that drivers recorded while on a roadway. Moments into the video, the tornado appears in the distance as cars continue on their way.
“It’s barely even a funnel, but that shit was nuts,” a person behind the camera says. “There it is! Look at it! Look at that!” he exclaims as the twister drops out of the dark clouds.
The man then says it is “jumping the highway.” Moments later, it hits the vehicle.
News 4 San Antonio shared an additional video from user Jose Parada showing a tornado near North New Braunfels and IH-35.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
Building a compost bin from scratch enables you to customize it to your particular circumstances. Everything from size to materials to design can be personalized to fit your needs.
Before you get too far into planning your bin, check your local municipality’s requirements. Many have restrictions on size and location, as well as structural elements of your composting bin. These are to abate odors, deter rodents, and protect the watershed.
2ND AMENDMENT
And as usual, the Biden Administration has come out on gun control measures …
Biden Pushes Lawsuits Against Gun Makers Following Maine Attacks
On Thursday, in response to the Maine shootings, President Joe Biden pushed for a repeal of protections that protect gun makers from frivolous lawsuits, universal background checks, and other gun controls.
WhiteHouse.gov published Biden’s statement, which opened with him saying, “Today, Jill and I are praying for the Americans who’ve lost their lives, for those still in critical care, and for the families, survivors, and community members enduring shock and grief.”
Police Took Suspected Maine Shooter for Evaluation in July, Yellow Flag Law Not Triggered
Police took Robert Card, the person of interest police are seeking in connection with Wednesday’s shootings in Maine, for an evaluation in July 2023 after he acted “erratically,” according to reports.
Card, an Army Reservist, had caught the attention of military officials after “acting erratically in mid-July” while taking part in training at West Point, the Associated Press reported. Police in New York were called and Card was taken to West Point’s Keller Army Community Hospital for evaluation.
And the lunacy continues by Maine politicians …
On Thursday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) stated that Maine does have a lot of guns, “But if you’re going hunting for a deer, you’re not taking a military-style assault weapon with multiple ammunition with it.” And that the one thing that was out of place in the Lewiston shooting “was an assault rifle, a weapon that was designed just to kill people.”
Pingree stated, “[T]here’s been a long tradition in Maine of Republicans and Democrats saying — as you often hear — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other people in northern New England say — we’ve got a strong gun tradition in our state, we just can’t go against that. And you never know in political life when the tipping point will hit, but it just felt today like when this was happening in our state and people were looking around, saying, oh my goodness, what are we going to do about this? Well, the one thing that was out of place in that picture was an assault rifle, a weapon that was designed just to kill people. And, as I said, we have a lot of guns in our state. But if you’re going hunting for a deer, you’re not taking a military-style assault weapon with multiple ammunition with it.”
COVID RELATED NEWS
Senate Passes Measure to Ban Federal Mask Mandates
‘The era of mask mandates caused a lot of problems,’ said Sen. J.D. Vance.
The U.S. Senate approved a proposal that would block the Department of Transportation from using federal funds to enforce mask mandates, with some Democrats joining Republicans to pass the measure.
The amendment, proposed by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), passed in a 59–38 vote on Wednesday.
“The era of mask mandates caused a lot of problems,” Mr. Vance said on the floor. “It caused problems for our kids. It caused developmental delays for school children. It caused a lot of rancor and a lot of division within our common American family. If people want to wear masks, of course, they should be able to. But if people don’t want to wear masks on airplanes, on transit, they should have that option as well. And that’s all that my amendment does.”
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Reduce a Major Beneficial Bacteria, Gut Biodiversity: Research
Research has shown that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines reduce bacteria belonging to the Bifidobacteria genus, a common and beneficial gut bacteria. COVID vaccination is also linked to reduced gut biodiversity.
Works by gastroenterologist Dr. Sabine Hazan, the CEO of ProgenaBiome, a microbiome genomic research laboratory, found that after COVID-19 vaccination, people’s Bifidobacteria levels can fall by as much as 90 percent. Some of her unpublished data found that Bifidobacteria levels are negligible in vaccinated people.
Bifidobacteria are among the first microbes to colonize a baby’s gastrointestinal tract as he or she passes through the mother’s birth canal. They are believed to exert positive health effects on their host.
GOOD NEWS
‘Operation Lightshine’ leads to 10 arrests for child sexual exploitation
Five men left their homes in Jacksonville in August, believing they were meeting a child for sex.
Instead, law enforcement agencies were waiting.
“Operation Lightshine,” a four-day undercover operation, was created on Aug. 2 to “identify and apprehend individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children.”
The operation led to 10 arrests, including two men from Georgia and one from California. All used apps to message victims they believed to be 13 or 14.
“During ‘Operation Lightshine,’ investigators and agents went undercover as children online to uncover and capture individuals involved in child sexual exploitation,” Cook said. “During the operation, they successfully identified several suspects engaged in these activities. Once the operation concluded, investigators needed to gather more evidence, some which required search warrants, to ensure that these suspects could be prosecuted and held accountable. This complex process involved a thorough investigation and collaboration between law enforcement agencies at the local and federal levels across the country. As a result of these efforts, 10 individuals attempting to sexually exploit minors were arrested.”
University Student Shares How She Saves $2,188 a Year With Pay Packet Saving Hack
A thrifty student has revealed how she saves £1,800 ($2,188) a year—by paying herself “pay packets” to stop herself from overspending.
21-year-old Emma Cutler from England has adopted some cost-saving measures to “plan for the future” and ease the burden of university costs.
Ms. Cutler gets three £3,000 ($3,645) student loan payments a year—and separates the money into pay packets when it reaches her bank account.
The third-year media and communications student at Loughborough University has a packet for bills and rent and splits the remaining money between food, nights out, self-care, and other miscellaneous spending needs.
To stop herself from overspending, Ms. Cutler uses online saving pots and cash.
Originally from Birmingham, Ms. Cutler, who does content creation for the university’s social pages, said: “I’m probably saving a good £150 [$182] a month.”
‘World’s Oldest Restaurant’ Serving Suckling Pig Since 1725 Hyped by Hemingway—Still Fresh Today
You know you’re old when your baby pictures are actual woodcut engravings. But if you’re the oldest restaurant in the business, you have to somehow stay fresh.
Restaurante Sobrino de Botín in Spain is the world’s oldest restaurant, according to the Guinness Book of Records. It predates America by a half-century and still serves its world-famous suckling pig 300 years after opening its doors.
Over a century before black and white daguerreotypes were a thing, Botín was born in Madrid in 1725. But what’s key isn’t whether Botín has endured the test of time—its three centuries prove it has—but how has the food fared in modern days?
ICYMI
Despite what this Administration thinks, we still have the First Amendment!
The Rutherford Institute has come to the defense of a Christian ministry’s right to be treated equally with other religious and charitable organizations which provide similar services.
Through the Bradley Study Center, the Christian Scholars Network (CSN) ministers to the Virginia Tech community by holding worship services, prayer meetings, Bible studies and weekly theological discussions and fellowship. The Rutherford Institute is challenging a local government’s refusal to recognize CSN as a religious association that uses its property exclusively for charitable, religious, or educational purposes, which would thereby qualify CSN for a property tax exemption given to nonprofit religious organizations under the Virginia Constitution and state laws. Attorneys affiliated with The Rutherford Institute filed suit in the Montgomery County Circuit Court against the County and the Town of Blacksburg after the Commissioner of the Revenue refused to reverse the denial of tax exemption for CSN’s property, even though the County provides a property tax exemption to a similar organization for college students of another religion.
“The First Amendment not only affirms the right to religious freedom for people of all faiths, but it also requires that the government treat all faiths equally and not favoring or disfavoring one over the other,” said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of Battlefield America: The War on the American People. “This is the slippery slope that affects us all, whether you’re talking about religious freedom, free speech or privacy: if the government is allowed to deny freedom to one segment of the citizenry, it will eventually extend that tyranny to all citizens.”
No, Clint Eastwood is NOT dead …
The false rumor circulated in October 2023. We’ve previously fact-checked other death hoaxes about Eastwood, including in 2017 and 2022.
But the guy who killed the Maryland Family Court Judge is!
Police: Suspect in Killing of Maryland Judge Found Dead
The man suspected of fatally shooting Maryland Judge Andrew Wilkinson over a child custody decision was found dead Thursday morning following a weeklong manhunt.
Pedro Argote, 49, had been sought after by law enforcement since the October 19 slaying of Washington county circuit court Judge Wilkinson, who had ruled in favor of Argote’s estranged wife in a child custody dispute just hours earlier. Police believe that Wilkinson’s decision to give the mother full custody of their four children and to ban Argote from any contact besides a $1,120 monthly child support payment motivated Argote to go to his home and shoot him dead, NBC News reported.
… and he is sooooo busted!
Surveillance Footage Confirms Jamaal Bowman Removed Emergency Signs Before Pulling Fire Alarm
Newly released footage confirms Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) threw emergency warning signs to the ground before pulling a House office building fire alarm in September, as first reported exclusively by Breitbart News the day of the crime.
There is no “next time” …
Report: Robber Shot Dead While Stuffing Pockets Full of Money
An alleged robber in Southwest Philadelphia was shot and killed Wednesday as he was reportedly taking money from a convenience store register and stuffing it into his pockets.
Head Topics reported that the alleged robber, a 28-year-old male with a firearm, entered the Happy Day Food Market around 10:30 p.m., walked behind the counter, and began taking cash from the register.
The alleged robber was wearing gloves and a mask that covered part of his face.
More Stories
Today’s News: May 03, 2024
Today’s News: May 01, 2024
Today’s News: April 30, 2024